Bus bar connector



Dec. 23, 1947. p. D. FORBES' 2,433,209

I Y BUS BAR-CONNECTOR Filed Spt. 11; 1946 2 Sheets Sheet l INVENTOR 1 Duncan D ores BY a 'Agigizv.

Dec. 23, 1947, D. D. FORBES 2,433 209 BUS BAR CONNECTOR Filed Sept. 11, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mumunum INVENTOR Duncan 1). Forbes 2 V b: ATTOR Y UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE 2,433,209 BUS BAR CONNECTOR Duncan D. Forbes, New York, N. Y., assignor to Electro Manganese Corporation, Knoxville, Tenn.

Application September 11, 1946, Serial No. 696,171

6 Claims. (Cl. 204-253) This invention relates to an improved device for connecting removable electrodes to a bus bar.

The invention may be employed in the electro deposition, including the electrowinning of manganese. In this art, electrolytic cells are employed in which cathodes and anodes are arranged alternately in spaced relation. Electric current passes from the anodes to the cathodes through suitable electrolyte anddeposits metallic manganese on the cathodes. The cathodes are 10 cathode sheet material is desirably made, in the made of sheet metallic material on which the case of manganese electrowinnin o Stainmetal deposited from the electrolyte is plated less steel as described and claimed in Chamberduring a desired period of electrolysis. At the lain U. S. Patent 2,325,660, August 3, 1943. The end of the plating period, the cathodes are recoeflicient of thermal expansion of the cathode moved from the bath or electrolyte and submitted it her should be sufll t y c ose to that of th sta to operations for the purpose of removing the less steel cathode sheet to which the bar is rigidly deposited metal, e. g., manganese, and recondiattached so that with changes in temperature, tioning the cathode so that it is in proper condino undue warping or bending occurs, such as is tion to receive a metallic deposit in the succeeding commonly o s rv d in the ase of bi-meta lic period of plating. These operations are repeated contacts where the contacting metals have differcontinuously and may therefore be designated as ent o fio ts of pan o he bar S ould cycles. have the narrowest practical cross section, be-

To remove the metallic deposit from the cause at least in the case of manganese electrocathode sheet, the latter is subjected to rather w nnin th sp r a n tw n a hod s is strenuous treatment involving bending or flexing not only small, but each cathode is positioned and treatment with one or more reagents as an n e a f e Which supports ca vas diaaid in reconditioning the surface, polishing, etc.; phragms i te p b n e ode d t in other words, as is well known, the cathodes do at des a d any u du y l r ss s t n not remain in the cell but are periodically rewould interfere with facility of access to the inside moved therefrom and then replaced therein. The of the cathodechambers or frames. Notwithanodes on the contrary commonly remain in the standing t is narrow cross se tion the cathode cell during the effective life thereof. i bar should have an adequate area of contact be- To facilitate the handling of the cathodes and tween it and the cathode bus bar when, as may the positioning thereof in the cell, each cathode e e Case, e u t y of the Cathode bar sheet is suspended from a metal cathode barto is re v y l w. u h re iv y low on ucwhich it is rigidly attached mechanically and ivi y m y b nc nt red in m ls; t alueffectively connected electrically. The cathode minum and certain alloys thereof which have a bars extend transversely across the cell and at i number o p p other than t v y. one end are connected to a copper bus bar which superio to pp r. For e a p t as been extends longitudinally of the cell. By means of found t t a um u and certain alloys th r f the cathode bars, the cathodes are connected elec have coeflicients of thermal expans on more neartrically in multiple with the cathode bus bar. 3, equal t t f th S a ess Steel cathode The properties or characteristics of cathode sheet t n pp r d it has lso been found bars which the art has strlven to obtain have to that the corrosion p ucts or salts formed by do with the composition of the bar, its conducthe action of the electrolyte on aluminum and tivity and chemical resistivity, and also the mesaid alloys thereof do not have the adverse effect chanical means wherebythe bar may not only of Sim ar products when copp is used. The be effectively connected electrically t th cath contact surface between the cathode bar and the ode bus bar but also be mountable and demountbus bar must frequently be polished to maintain able in relation thereto in the quickest and easiest uctivity. This polishing or abrasion causes manner. That there are a number f factors i wear and the mechanical characteristics of the volved in the olution f the problem .will be connection between the bus bar and the cathode apparent from thefollowing summary. bar should be such that adequate pressure con- The bar must have sufiicient rigidity and 'electact can be maintained regardless of changes trical conductivity to. adequately support i the in dimensions due to the said wear. Moreover,

cathodes during the various operations to which it is subjected and to conduct the current from the cathode to the cathode bus bar. The composition of the bar should be such that corrosion products or salts formed by the action of the mist arising from the electrolyte and by the drippage and spillage of the electrolyte incidental to the operation of the electrical process do not harmfully contaminate the electrolyte in the cell. The

tures of the means by which the cathode bar is:

connected to the bus bar should be one which permits the cathode bar to be mounted or demounted in the quickest and easiestmanner; and. the contact device should be1one=not requiring. any tools for operating.

Numerous efforts have been made to. arrive, at the criteria described above but as far as I am clude an elongated element having threaded portions and an axis transverse to the axes of the cathode and anode bars. As specifically shown in the drawings, said threaded element is a turnbuckle bolt IO having a right handed threaded portion I I and a left handed threaded portion l2. The bolt has a wrench engaging portion I6 which may b hexagonal. to receive a. twelve point box Wnenchhaying. aabody portion I3 and; handle I9. The bolt also preferably has a cylindrical portion IIr. The threaded element or bolt may be made of any suitable material preferably stainless steel.

' Ont-he-threaded portions I I and I2 are mounted aware, all prior devices and efforts have" been I lacking in at least some. of the above mentioned characteristics.-

' An. object of the presentinvention isto provide a device meeting with thestated criteria.

Theinventionwill.be-defined. in the claims and in. order to specifically describe and illustrate one. species; embodying the. said. principles reference may be hadto. the following.descriptiontaken in connectionwiththeappended drawings in which:

Fig. 1- is a plarr View Fig. 2 is an elevation view.

Fig. 3, is. a transverse view. partly. in sectionv takenonthe line.3l--3 of. Fig. 22

Fig. 4 is. a.longitudinal1sectionview taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1

' Looking at thedrawin'gsandithe several figures thereof'in which like partsare indicated generally by the same numerals the. cathode bus bar 3 is. rigidly supported in any suitable manner in relation to the wall I. of, an electrolytic cell. The.

anodebus bar Ziis. also rigidly supportedin any suitable manner.. Theparticular details by which. saifdbus bars are support'ed, whether. on the walll of'the' cell or otherwise, is not, shown since the. particular manner. of'support' of said bus. bars is. not material to the. present invention. The bars. 4', 4A, 4B;,etc from which thecathodes are. suspendedandgthe bars Sf'rom which theanodesare suspended extend" transversely of the electrolytic. cell: The anode bars iiimay be connected. at one end"thereoftotheanode bus. bar 2 bymeans. of screws or bolts Ia. The other ends of the anode. bars 5jmay be supported in any suitablemanner. known to the art,.and therefore not specifically shown.

Ordinarily each anode consistsof' a number of rigid stripssecured to and suspended from an. anode bar..' Each strip may be about 30' inches.

long; about 4 inches wide, and. about A. inch.

thick and made fromsuitable. metallic material which may contain. a preponderating, proportion. of lead; Insteadof a number. of strips,.the.an0de. may consist of 'asingl'e plate, solid or perforated, or a grid, etc. As already stated,.the. anodes and cathodes. are disposed. in. parallel relation and.

arranged. alternately. side,v by side and extend. transversely of the anode and cathod busbars.

The cathode bars 4,.4A, 4B, etc.,. are preferably made. of. an aluminum, alloy and are connected at oneend thereof. to; the cathodeYbus bar 3-, preferably made: ofcopper,. bymeanswhich will be describedindetail. The cathodebars- 4; 4A, 43-, etc at-the other ends-thereofi are'supportedonthe .cellin. any. suitable. manner known to. the. art and. therefore not. specifically shown.

In. the.' appended drawings the.- said. means" in gripping; elements. which may be bronze nuts I3 and.- Wrespectively: One of the flat faces of each nut (see surface I55? of Fig. 3 for example) rests upon and. engages the upper surface 'I of the cathodebus'bar' 3 and is thus held against rotation; when the threaded element is operated. Each pair of cathode bars (see for example 4, 4A of. Figs..1,,2.and.3) is demountedly. secured or gripped. between. the. end. surfaces. of. nuts I3, I4 andLthe opposed vertical. f acesor. contact surfaces of. blocks 4'Ilmad'eof' highly conductive material, e.. g.,. copper. Means are provided whereby a. quick turn of. the wrench handle I.9. through. a. relatively short. arc. causes the nutsv I3 and I l either. to. be. retracted, toward. each other and in spaced relation to the. cathode bars 4', 4A or advanced away from each. other and into an engagement Withsaidbars. In.the. former case,. thecathode bars 4'and4A are released. from engagement with the nuts. on. one. side and the vertical contact surfaces of'the. copper blocks 40 on the other side. and may thusb quickly demount'ed. In. the latter case the cathode bars. 4" and lA, are gripped in pressure contactbetween the end'surfaces of the nuts I3, I4.and the opposed.

vertical contact surfaces of the copper blocks. 40 respectively, mechanical and. effective electrical engagement with the copper blocks 40 and" the cathode bus bar 3. Electrical contact between the cathode bars and the adjacent copper blocks-40 is secured. at the opposed .and;eng aging surfaces thereof and. the area of this surface engagement may bevaried byvarying. the extent of contact. area of the surfaces of the copper blocks 40 which engage the surfaces'of. the adjacent cathodebars. In Fig. 4 for'examplethe thickness and verticalheight of. thecopper blocks is clearly. shown. Normally the width in a direction paralleLto. the axes of the cathode bars. woulclbe about. the same as. the width of thecathode bus. bar. 3. However, where cathode bars of unusually low. electrical conductivity are used and whereit. is. therefore desired.

toi'ncrease the areaof. contact between said bars and blocks. 40', .the .saidwidth-of the blocks 40. may beincreased to thedesired-extent. Theblocks 40 are maintained in.firm;mechanical and effectiveelectricall'engagementwith the. busbar 3 by means. of metallic. blocks or. clamps 4-2- which are indentedas shown .to provide'overhanging.shoulders 4'31-and 44.. Bymeans/otcapscrews. blocks 42- and. shoulders: 43 secure the.- blocks. 40 withv thelower or bottom. surfaces thereofin pressure engagementv withthe bus -bani; Shims? 4I= are; preferably. providedto: compensate: for: any' wear onth vertical surfaces; of. the. blocks: 40; and; opposed surfaces of the.- cathode. bars. This; provision makesiit possible tosmaintainaa closely: controlled spacing; between the: cathodes: and. anodesnotwithstanding; dimensional. changes:

The swingably; mounted element e; g;, turn- Za buckleboltf In, is; supported by bracket-m secure'd and are". thus. mounted. in firm.

to bus bar 3 by means of cap screws 2|. The bracket has webs 22 and 23. The web 22 has a hole 24 which receives a portion of the cylindrical and right hand threaded portion ll of the bolt. The web 23 has a somewhat larger hole 25 which receives the hexagonal portion of the bolt in. The webs have extended portions 30 and 3| connected by bar 32 which acts as a stop for the wrench handle 19 to prevent the possibility of said handle coming in contact with the anode bus bar 2, and thus creating a short circuit between the anode bus bar 2 and the cathode bus bar 3. The threaded portion H of the turnbuckle bolt is made right handed and the threaded portion I2 is made left handed, so that when the Wrench handle I9 is turned in a counterclockwise position (with reference to Fig. 3) the nuts l3 and M will be forced or advanced away from each other and into engagement with the adjacent cathode bars 4, 4A respectively, and the latter will be squeezed or gripped between said nuts and opposed copper blocks 40. The two positions of the wrench shown in Fig. 3 indicate the maximum arc through which the wrench handle may move. It is not necessary to move the wrench handle through such a wide arc in mounting or demounting the cathode bars. Generally a movement through quite a small arc, for example, 20", is sufficient to effect release and engagement of the cathode bars respectively because a relatively slight movement of the gripping elements l3, I4 is sufficient for those purposes. The action is rapid because the pitch of the threads I I, I2 may be made greater than standard. When the threads are arranged as described and shown, release of the cathode bars is effected by upward movement of the wrench handle (clockwise with reference to Fig. 3) and mounting or engagement of the cathode bars is effected by a downward movement of the wrench handle (counterclock wise with reference to Fig. 3).

It will also be observed that'when the cathode bars 4, 3A, etc., are demounted, the turnbuckle bolt l and nuts I3, I 4 may be bodily moved to the left or right; i. e., longitudinally in either direction whereby ample spaces are provided between the said nuts and the opposed faces of the blocks 40 so that the contact faces of said blocks 40 may be readily cleaned to provide good contact.

The limit of the swinging movement of the wrench handle does not limit the rotation of the turnbuckle belt H] as the wrench maybe moved longitudinally on bolt ID to the cylindrical portion I1, rotated through 30 or multiples thereof and moved back to reengage the hexagonal portion I6 and the bolt ['0 rotated further than the limit of the wrench travel permits in either direction to increase the spaces between the faces of the nuts 13 and I4 and the opposed contact surfaces of the blocks 40 when a thicker than normal cathode bar is used or to facilitate cleaning of the contact surfaces, or to diminish said spaces to assure positive pressure contact when a thinner than normal cathode bar is used.

While the device handles two cathodes, should it be desirable to omit one cathode, the other cathode can be securely held by additional turning of the turnbuckle bolt until the nut comes in contact with the other contact block, or by inserting a shim to replace the omitted cathode.

In a modification of the preferred form, suitable for use with a single cathode, one of the nuts can be fixed, and the other used for clamping the cathode bar, or to further simplify the device, the

a 6 thread and nut could be omitted from one end of the turnbuckle bolt which would then be held longitudinally but free to rotate and clamp a single cathode with the nut at the other end.

What is claimed is: 1. A device for connecting a cathode to a bus I bar having an upper horizontal surface extending ment with the upper surface of said bus bar;

gripping means arranged for quick movement longitudinally of said bus bar toward said contact block and away therefrom, to grip said cathode bar in position between said gripping means and contact block with a vertical surface of the cathode bar in positive pressure engagement with a side contact surface of the contact block and to release said bar from said gripping engagement; and actuating means swingable about an axis perpendicular to said contact surface of the contact block to effect quick gripping and releasing movement.

2. A device for connecting a cathode to a bus bar having an upper horizontal surface extending longitudinally of an electrolytic cell, said cathode being secured to a cathode bar extending transversely of said bus bar, said cathode bar having a bottom edge surface and two vertical side surfaces; said device comprising an adjustably fixed contact block having a bottom contact surface and a side contact surface, said side contact surface being adapted to engage one of the vertical surfaces of said cathode bar; means demountably securing said contact block to the bus bar with the bottom contact surface of said block in pressure engagement with the upper surface of said bus bar; gripping means arranged for quick movement longitudinally of said bus bar toward said contact block and away therefrom, to grip said 7 cathode bar in position between said gripping means and contact block, with a'vertical surface of the cathode bar in positive pressure engage- I ment with a side contact surface of the contact block and to release said bar from said engagement; said gripping means being mounted on and actuated by an element adapted to rotate about an axis perpendicular to a side contact surface of the contact block; and means swingable about said axis to effect quick rotating movement of said element.

3. A device for connecting a cathode to a bus bar having an upper horizontal surface extending longitudinally of an electrolytic cell, said cathode being secured to a cathode bar extending ing transversely of said bus bar, said cathode bar having a bottom edge surface and two vertical side surfaces; said device comprising a fixed con' tact block having a bottom contact surface and a side contact surface, said side contact surface being adapted to engage one of the vertical surfaces of said cathode bar; means demountably securing said contact block to the bus bar with the bottom contact surface of said block in pressure engagement with the upper surface of said bus bar; gripping means arranged for quick movement longitudinally of said bus bar toward said cathode bar inposition between said g'r'ippin'g me'an's'and contact block, withaver-tica1 surface of the cathode bar in positive pressure engage ment a side contact surfaceof'the contact block and to release said bar fro'rn said engagement; saidgripping means comprising anut having a face engaging the uppersurrace of the "cathode bus bargsaid nut being mounted 'on'abolt adapted to swing about an "axis perpendicular to -a side contact surface of the-contact block; and means swingable about said axis to effect swinging movement of said bolt.

'4. A device for connecting a cathode to a bus bar having an upper horizontal surface extending longitudinally of an electrolytic cell, said cathode being secured to a cathode bar extending transversely of said bus b'an' said' cathode bar havin'g'a bottom edge surface rand "two vertical side surfaces saiddevice comprising a' fixed' contact-block having'a bottom contact surface and a side contact surface, said/side contact surface beingadaptedto engage one ofthe vertical surfaces of said cathode bar; means demountably securing said contact block to the bus bar with the bottom contact surface of said block in pressure engagement with the upper surface of said bus bar; a bracket securedtoand carriedby said cathode bus bar, a turnbuckle boltlmounted on said bracket for swinging movement about an axis perpendicular to a side contact surface'of said contact-block, anut threaded on'said bolt, said nut havinga faceengaging the upper surface of the, cathode busbarysaid nut being adapted by a swinging movement of said bolt for quick advancement toward'and retraction away from-said contact block'to gripsaid cathode bar-in a position between said-nut and contact block, with a'vertical surface of thecathodebar in positive pressure engagement with said contact surface of the contact block and to release saidbar from said engagement.

- 5. In an electrolytic cell having a series of anodes and cathodes alternately arranged in spaced relation and extending transversely of said cell and connected to anode and cathode bus bars, respectively, extending longitudinally of said cell, each of said cathodes being secured to a cathode bar extending transversely-of said bus bars, said cathode bar having a bottomsurface adapted to engage the upper surface of the cathode bus bar and opposed side surfaces'extending vertically from said bus bar surface when the cathode bar is in engagement withtn'e cathode bus bar; a device for quickly mounting the cathode bars and attached cathodes in the cell with'said cathodes in proper spaced relation to the anodes and in efiective'electrical connection to the cathode bus bar, and for quickly demounting said cathode bars and cathodes, said device comprising a series of copper contact blocks, each contact block having abottom contact surface -and a side contact surface, said side contact surface being'adapted to engage one of the vertical surfaces of a cathode bar, -said copper contact blocks being arranged in pairs,

said pairs' 'bein'g s aced apart along said cathode bus bara'ndth'e members of each of said pairs cf copper co'ntact blocks being spaced from each otherymeans securing the members of each pair of icontact'blocks to the'cathode bus bar with the bottom contact surface of each contact block nmpressure engagement with the upper surface ofthecathode' bus bar; and gripping means disposed between each 'of said pairs of contact bldcks, s'aid grippin'g 'means carrying a pair of locking member's, each'of said locking members being positioned'adjacent and in spaced relation to a contact m'ember of one of said pairs of contactmembers; and means to effect a simultaneous advancement of said locking members in opposite directions through a path perpendicularto the verti'cal contact surfaces of the copper contact blocks toward-said contact blocks to grip each-of a' palr of cathode bars betweeneach of saidigripping members and an adjacent contact block with 'aside surface of said cathode bar in pressure 'en'gagement With a vertical contact surface of said contact block, and to effect a simultaneous retraction of said gripping members in opposite directions and away from said contact blocks to release said cathode bars from said engagement.

"6. A-device for quickly mounting and demountingcathodes in an electrolytic cell, said cell having a cathode bus bar extending longitudinally thereof and each of said cathodes being sus' pended vfrom a cathode bar disposed perpendicular to said bus bar, said cathode bar having edge portions and side surfaces, said device comprising a pair of fixed contact blocks, each of said blocks being adapted to be rigidly secured to said bus bar with a bottom edge portion of said contact block maintained in pressure contact with the cathode 'bus bar and a side contact surfa'ce of said contact block perpendicular to said bus bar; a pair of gripping elements adapted to beadvanc-ed and retracted in a path perpendicular to said contact surfaces, to grip each of a pair of catho'debars between a gripping element and an opposed side contact surface of a contact block-with a side surface of each cathode bar in pressure contact with a side contact surface of a contact block when said gripping elements are advanced, andto release said cathodes from said engagement when the gripping elements are retracted, and means swingable in a plane perpendicular to said path to eifect said advancement and retraction.

DUNCAN D. FORBES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

